Saturday

In the Thursday's and Friday's passages (link), we reflected on
Peter's experience at the house of the Cornelius in Joppa, and then
of his realisation that behind his vision and encounter with
Cornelius was God's word that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for the
Gentiles as well as the Jews.

This is the firm experience of Peter and the six brothers who
were with him; however, it comes as something of a shock when
reported to the rest of the Jewish Christian community in
Jerusalem. So, when Peter returns they are initially quite critical
and ask him: "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with
them?" (v. 3).

Peter's response was to set out the experience of what has
happened to him, as we have read; first his vision at Joppa of a
sheet of unclean animals being lowered before him, then the arrival
of the three messengers following Cornelius' vision in Caesarea,
all of which were then confirmed by the encounter at Cornelius'
home, as a result of which, as he began to speak, "the Holy Spirit
fell upon them just as it fell upon us at the beginning" (v.
15).

In this explanation, Peter reflected on words of John the
Baptist, that he "baptized with water" but that you will be
"baptized with the Holy Spirit" (v. 16), but which he attributed as
the words of Jesus himself, to which the coming of the Holy Spirit
bears proof. And then in the light of all this, Peter nailed his
colours to the mast; "If then God gave them the same gift that he
gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I
could hinder God?"

On the face of it, his fellow apostles seem convinced. We are
told they first fall silent, before going on to praise God and
affirm their understanding of all that has happened, how "God has
given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life" (v.
18). We know from other sources in Paul's letters and the account
of the Council of Jerusalem in Acts
15, that it was not quite so simple, and that the relationship
between Jewish and Gentile Christians would remain something of a
thorny issue for generations to come. Nevertheless, Acts
9-11 reveal how a significant turning point has been reached,
and how the Apostles will henceforth speak of being 'sent to the
nations', as well as to the people of Israel.

To Ponder

It's easy to be critical of the community in Jerusalem; how
well do we deal with differences in our own community?

Have you ever experienced criticism about your practice of
faith and the company you keep? How did you respond to it?